All About Blues

Chapter 16

Azul remained in the hospital for a week. Klay and Piper have already been permitted to visit her after their conversation with Lyle. And like what Lyle said, he hasn't came back after that night. They casually asked Azul about him and yet they only got limited answers from her. The doctor did not also disclose further information about matters. They are told that Azul passed out due to stress. She has been doing a lot and thinking a lot for the past days. They are also told that a much stressful environment is not good for Azul, well it was not really good for everyone else. And yet regardless of how common the information the Doctor have said, Klay couldn't help but to still wonder a lot about Azul.

Like Lyle, Klay is as well curious about his relationship with Azul. It was clear to him that they are childhood friends, but he couldn't help but to conclude further. He could scrutinize that there is something between them that is more than just _childhood friends_. That thought, as what he really usually do, just ends being shrugged over.

"Aren't you busy for the incoming exam?" Azul asked to Klay as they were walking together in the gravel pathway outside their respective campus, they were heading in the dorm. Klay waited for Azul to ask her to hang out. They fortunately encountered each other not so long.

"Exactly" Klay muttered "People have been inviting me to some party and I do not want to go."

"Tell them that you don't."

"Ohhh! It is not that simple."

Azul took a moment of gazing Klay before saying "I see."

"So are you up to it?"

"Where are you planning to take me?"

"I exactly do not know." Klay tried pondering places but ends up asking Azul "Where do you want?"

"I don't know places around here, Klay."

"No—I mean— well, I know a lot of places that I could bring you but I need to have an idea what kind of place you prefer."

"Certainly a place that is solemn enough for you to be able to study."

They fixed their plan further. Klay decided to take his car in the parking lot while Azul is preparing. When he pulled over in front of the dorm building Azul was already waiting in the porch. She is standing there roaming her eyes around the street. Wearing an all black outfit— a black sweatshirt, black fitted jeans and a pair of vans shoes with also a black tote bag hanging in her right shoulder.

Klay rolled windows over as soon as he took his halt. Azul just then went down the porch and opened the car door of the passenger seat.

"All black uh."

"It's cold" Azul thriftly respond.

"It'd surely rain later at five."

"Well it always does."

They then pulled over.

None of them decided to talk not until when they got quite distant from the university and passed that hospital where Azul was brought before. Klay's mind recalled unbiddenly about that night when they met Lyle.

"Can I ask?" He decided to speak.

"You are already asking," sarcastically, "go on."

"About Lyle..."

"Hmm—what about him?"

"He actually asked us about something—to look after you—or something like to take care of you. It just troubles me for some reason."

Azul glanced at him, brows are knitting as if also troubled. But then she looked away together with a sigh that seems out of frustration or so. She turned outside the windows.

"Well... my parents asked Lyle before to look after me while I am here in this city because I told them so. But I know Lyle is a busy person, and I just really told them that Lyle would do so for them to let me live in here for at least awhile." She began. "Lyle is currently working up on some personal problem and he really cannot take care of me, I am aware about that before I could even get in this city. That is why I am regretting using his name just to get what I want. I literally imposed myself as part of his responsibility."

"I assume he really plays a significant role in your life."

"Indeed," she glanced at him with glint in her eyes, "my parents trusts him enough— they perhaps, even trusts him more than me. Well he is indeed trustworthy and so genuine. It might sound quite audacious, but I know he would really take responsibility of me right when my parents told him about my favor."

Although Lyle hasn't really been present around since she arrived in the city, she still knows about what Lyle has done. He was literally the one who managed at getting Azul in the university, the one who sets up her dorm, her doctor. He even have contacts with Azul's instructors and professors. That's just what Azul knew—she is yet oblivious about Piper and more other things. Lyle monitored her enough.

"Another thing..."

"Go on..."

"Why did you really passed out?"

"What do you mean?"

"Lyle mentioned a lot of things in our conversation and yet he hasn't really made it clear. Particularly, about your current health condition. You know, I believe I am entitled to know—but, of course, if you do not want to tell me about it—"

"I am sick." She cuts him off. "I have a kind of an illness or so that makes me—well, an attention seeker—" they turned to glance at each other, Azul only grinned as Klay gave him that deadpan look "—no, but seriously, I have to be quite mindful and careful about my motions due to that illness. It is a sort of a serious illness but you have nothing to worry it is not contagious or so."

"Is it the reason why your parents and Lyle is pretty watchful to you?"

"Certainly."

"Serious illness— is it like Consue—"

"You know what—I honestly hate talking about it. I do not want to tackle about that matter quite further." She simply said, not sounding any negative. "I am just sick."